Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/55957
The challenges before our association are many and varied, as are the challenges before any business enterprise. such a decision. We also hope to receive additional feedback on all options from AACSB members at various conferences and seminars for the rest of the year. Even as AACSB extends its services to schools in emerging markets, we must continue to be responsive to the needs of our longtime accredited institutions. We also need to consider ways to distinguish various segments of our currently accred- ited schools. For example, the Carnegie I research universities have different goals and priorities and, therefore, different needs from AACSB. We continually seek better ways to help our members achieve their goals, and we frequently receive useful insights from our Affinity Groups. These clusters of schools, drawn together by similar needs and interests, meet at international association events and stay in touch year-round through the AACSB Exchange. Their perspectives help AACSB recognize the differences between schools and provide better services tailored to spe- cific needs. Other Key Issues While I expect innovation, globalization, and accreditation to be major themes for the organization over the next year, we also will need to keep our sights on other issues of great importance to business and business education. Among these is sustainability—the development of ethical business strategies that keep organizations profitable while causing no harm to the planet or its people. Business schools around the world offer programs that approach sustainability from many angles, from developing green supply chains to implementing green accounting prac- tices. Many schools are also "walking the talk" by construct- ing new facilities that incorporate sustainable design features, such as efficient energy systems, low-flow water fixtures, green roofs, and recycled building materials. Recognizing sustainability as an essential business strat- egy for the future, AACSB has organized an annual confer- ence designed to help schools add the topic to their cur- ricula and their campuses. In June, the association held its third sustainability conference in Denver. Speakers from GE and Target described how their organizations have incorpo- rated sustainability and corporate social responsibility into their agendas. Presenters from business schools discussed topics that ranged from creating interdisciplinary sustain- 56 BizEd SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 ability centers to encouraging faculty to direct their research toward solv- ing the world's ills. Creating courses on sustainability— or any other topic—is impossible without a strong faculty, and the field of management education continues to face a shortage of doctorally qual- ified professors. While the current recession has temporarily slowed hiring, the global growth of busi- ness schools means the industry will need an increasing number of talent- ed, well-trained faculty. AACSB has already worked to address the short- age by supporting Post-Doctoral Bridge-to-Business programs and other initiatives. But we believe there is more we can do. For instance, AACSB's Committee on Issues in Management Education (CIME) has begun collecting and analyzing data to assess both the supply and demand for faculty members globally. We also are forming a Task Force that will analyze the production process for PhDs, a process that has essentially remained unchanged for 100 years. Why does the average time for production of a PhD student take more than five years? If this can be shortened, will we be able to alleviate or avert the doctoral shortage? These and other questions will be addressed by the Doctoral Faculty Shortage Work- ing Group, which reports to CIME and is led by Richard Sorensen of Virginia Tech. Looking Ahead The challenges before our association are many and varied, as are the challenges before any business enterprise. To carry out our mission, we will need to be thoughtful, flexible, cre- ative, and committed. We also will need to rely on the input and feedback of our members who have insights into what the association should be emphasizing today—and where it needs to be focused tomorrow. On behalf of AACSB, I would like to thank all of you who donate your time to our efforts on thought leadership, accreditation review, and many other significant activities. AACSB thrives through the creative, productive activities of its volunteers, and we are very grateful to all who provide valuable time and insights. ■ z Andrew J. Policano is dean of the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. MILENA BONIEK/PHOTOLIBRARY